//------------------------------//
// An alternate ending. 
// Story: First Contact Equestria Origins: The Defender 
// by SgtTex 
//------------------------------//


42 Years prior to events of Emerald Spider First Contact Equestria



~~~~~~~~~~~


The self proclaimed Dark Nexus and Nyx stand over a defeated Dusk Shine and Shining Armor in the Nightstone Castle courtyard.

"Good... Finish them and there will be nopony left to stand in your way!"

Nyx lifted a blade made of pure energy and readied it to strike Dusk, the one she believed abandoned her.

"Any final words before your demise Element of Power?"

Dusk struggled but managed to lift his head and say.

"I... I apologize..."

Nyx was surprised by this.

"What?", She asked.

"I failed you as a father Nyx. I couldn't protect you, and I apologize. When I first found out that you were Nightmare Moon before all this, I feared the worst... I can see now that the opposite is true. You were the greatest thing that ever happened to me, you gave me purpose... And I failed you, so do what you must, but I know you are no killer, and you were not the one that killed Cadance..."

"What!?!", She yelled stumbling back a bit upon finding out about this.

She shot a piercing look towards Nexus.

"You told me that the team you sent to the Crystal Empire was just to capture and imprison Princess Cadance!"

Nexus remained emotionless, "It was, but then I promptly executed her."

"Why!?! If she was no longer a threat, then why did you kill her!?!"

Nexus looked her in the eye and furrowed his brow, "Don't you see? Any alicorn or any of the Elements of Harmony could possibly overthrow you! Now strike! Finish it!"

Nyx looked at Dusk and Shining, and then back to her blade a readied it to strike.

"As you wish Dark Nexus."

Nyx then struck at Nexus at blinding speeds only to be blocked by a shield he projected.

Nexus smiled, "I knew it. I should have realized it when you banished Celestia and Luna rather than publicly executing them. Your'e no Nightmare Moon, the Element of Power has seen to making sure that you have been corrupted."

Nyx then made a flurry of attacks with her blade, but all were blocked, and Dark Nexus didn't move and inch.

"SHUT UP! I don't know who I am now, but I am not Nightmare Moon!"

Nexus was laughing at this.

"How amusing. You think you have a choice... If you shall not enact the true ruler of the Night's will, then I shall!"

Three lashes of energy whipped out of Nexus' horn, one hitting Nyx in the head, and the other 2 in her sides. Nyx all of a sudden found herself in great pain as though she were being ripped apart. The pain was so great all Nyx could do was scream.

Dusk saw this and picked himself up, "NO!"

Dusk had gathered up the remainder of his energies and struck out at Nexus to halt his attack on Nyx, all the while Dusk was getting closer and closer to him, unleashing everything he had left in himself.

"I failed Nyx once! I will not fail her again! YOU STAY AWAY FROM MY DAUGHTER!"

Nexus laughed, "You struggle against the inevitable and your love for her is not real. Without your beloved 'Princesses', and the rest of the Elements, you stand no chance."

Dusk was starting to tire. His assault on Nexus was draining him dry of his remaining energies. He looked back to see Nyx lying on the ground, but she had turned back into a filly. It then became clear to Dusk, Nexus had not just been absorbing Nyx's power but her entire being. Shining Armor had come around, and saw what was happening.

Shining Armor got up and started to run to assist his brother, "Dusk!"

Dusk heard Shining heading his way and yelled back at him, "Shining...URRRG... Get Nyx out of here!"

Shining Armor then noticed a small filly on the ground nearby and realized it was Nyx, but decided to question as to why she was a filly later. Trusting his brother he put Nyx up on his back.

Shining Armor then turned back to Dusk, "Dusk what about you?"

"Forget me! You're the only one left that can... URG!!!"

Nexus had started to push back with the energies he had acquired from Nyx.

"JUST GO!... For me... Please..."

Shining looked back at his brother one last time, then back to Nyx, then reluctantly he made his way out of the Nightstone Castle court yard with Nyx on his back.

Dark Nexus smiled devious and glared at Dusk while still bombarding him with energy.

"You must realize... You are doomed."

Dusk had then made sure Shining and Nyx got out of the area.

"Maybe so... But if it's my end, I'll make sure it is your's as well!"

Dusk then unleashed an amount of power within himself he never knew he had, and kept getting closer and closer until his horn made contact with Nexus' own. There was then a resulting explosion and a massive pillar of light that could be seen for miles.

~~~~~~~~~~

It had been an entire day since the battle with Nexus and Nyx found herself waking up in what were once familiar surroundings of the library. She then noticed that she was once again a filly.

"...Huh the... Wha...", Nyx stammered.

"Hey she is awake!", Spike yelled as he noticed Nyx wake up.

Spike and Shining Armor then came running over to Nyx. They were back in the tree house Nyx had once called home.

Shining Armor approached her, "Hey kid you alright?"

Nyx was confused, "How did I get here? Why I am a filly again?"

"I believe Nexus tried to absorb you, but he was stopped before he could completely do so. I brought you here, me and Spike have been watching over you.", Shining Armor told her.

Nyx's mind was still somewhat muddled.

You brought me here? But I thought because of..."

Shining Armor stopped her.

"It wasn't you. All of the reports we got in about you said you preferred to take everypony alive. I miss Cadance yes... More than you'll ever realize, but she wouldn't want me to drown in sorrow, or hold anger towards you, especially since you didn't do it."

Nyx then realized something else.

"Where is Dusk?.... Where is my dad?"

Spike couldn't bear to be in the same room, and went downstairs. Shining Armor hung his head and put his hoof on her shoulder.

Shining Armor sighed, "Nyx... How do I put this? Dusk... He's..."

She didn't need to hear anymore, she realized what he was going to say.

"No... No... Please no..."

Nyx then started to weep and clung to Shining Armor. Shining Armor then hugged her back. Shining Armor would have likely broken out into tears as well, but he had cried himself out when Cadance had died.

"It's okay kid I'm here. I miss him too, but we'll get through this together."

~~~~~~~~~~

The battle had not damaged Ponyville severely but it was bad enough to where it would at-least take a few weeks to clean up completely. Nightstone Castle had taken the brunt of the damage, but most of it still remained, and was being used as a shelter for those who had lost their homes.

The sun had been in the same place for 2 and a half days and it would need to be moved soon. Unfortunately Nyx had been striped of her ability to do so because of the amount of energy she lost.

The sight where the fight between Dusk and Nexus had their ultimatum was still scorched, and the ground was still warm. Pinkie Pie had been freed along with the rest of her friends, and despite being depressed at the loss of her friend Dusk and her mane no longer being in its usually goofy state, she still decided to help Ponyville clean up.

She was collecting small pieces of stone from the part of the castle that had gotten blasted off, when all of a sudden her legs flew into the air and she turned into what looked like a miniature pink tornado.
Pinkie Pie then gasped, smiled, and her hair poofed back up.

"DUSK IS STILL ALIVE, DUSK IS STILL ALIVE, DUSK IS STILL ALIIIIIVE!!!"

Pinkie the went around and gathered everyone who was able to come and gather around the scorched sight if the fight, even Shining Armor, Nyx, and Spike reluctantly came to the sight, but they knew Pinkie wouldn't be gathering everypony in Ponyville like this unless there was a party, or something important.

Lavender lightning struck in the middle of the scorched area, then another bolt, and another. Then one bolt bigger than the others struck, and when everyone opened their eyes after shielding them there standing before them was Dusk Shine, Luna, and Celestia.

But there was something different about each of them. For one Dusk appeared to be an alicorn and was a bit taller, Luna was now a very dark shade of blue, had light blue eyes that seemed to glow slightly, and had a flowing mane and tail that looked like the night sky, and Celestia irises in her eyes were glowing a bright lavender color, and her pupils looked like tiny suns, and as for her mane and tail they could only be described as looking like solar fire.

Shining Armor and Spike both said, "Dusk?", In a surprised tone.

"Dad?" Nyx asked in an equally surprised tone.

Dusk opened his eyes, and looked exhausted.

Dusk was weak, but he managed to say, "Ha... I see Pinkie got my message through her 'Pinkie sense'."

Nyx ran up to Dusk and gave him the biggest huge she had ever given to him crying tears of joy.

"Dad what happened? How are you an alicorn? Where did you go? I didn't think I'd see you again!"

Dusk smiled as tears filled his eyes. There Nyx was before him again, he had his daughter back, and he couldn't be happier.

"I promise I'll explain everything my little defender, but right now I need sometime to rest, is that okay."

Nyx smiled, "Of course dad. Why wouldn't it be?"

Shining Armor and Spike helped Dusk back to the library and into his bed. All the while Celestia and Luna were helping to clean up, and for the first time in 3 days the moon came up over the horizon again.

"You all know what this means!", Pinkie Pie said, "IT'S TIME FOR A PARTY!!!"

The whole town cheered as they made preparations. Nyx just sat by Dusk's bedside as Shining was outside explaining what happened while they were gone. He then came back inside.

Nyx looked at Shining Armor concerned and asked, "What are they going to do with me?"

Shining Armor smiled and said, "Kid. Celestia just finished the paper work and everything is in order, we just need Dusk's signature."

Nyx looked confused, "Signature for what?"

"Your adoption papers.", Shining Armor answered.

"Wait... You mean..."

Shining Armor nodded, "That's right, you are going to be officially recognized as his daughter, which means I'm going to be your uncle! It seems that Dusk made a very convincing case to Luna and Celestia wherever they went."

Nyx turned to both Shining Armor and Spike.

Nyx started to tear up, "Thank you. Both of you for watching out for me... I don't know what to say."

Spike hugged Nyx and said, "Hey that's what families do."


~~~~~~~~~~~


After the the adoption papers had been worked out, Dusk explained that his actions he had taken that day had unlocked his true potential, and ascended to alicorn-hood. During that time he was gone he worked on getting Celestia and Luna unbanished and succeeded, and left him exhausted for a week. Dusk explained all this to Nyx, Spike, and Shining Armor after things had settled down.

Dusk was sitting in his study reading with Nyx in small bed nearby. Shining Armor then walked in.

"Hey L.B.B.F.F. hows it going?"

"Hey Shining. You seem oddly upbeat."

"Yes well. While losing Cadance still hurts, I know she wouldn't want me to drown in my sorrow."

"So what's the reason for your visit."

Shining Armor made sure they weren't being listened too.

"I just wanted to check on you, and ask you a question."

"And what might that be?", Dusk asked.

Shining seemed uncomfortable, but he felt he needed to ask.

"Do you think Dark Nexus is truly gone? We never found a body."

Dusk closed his book and lead Shining Armor out onto the balcony.

Dusk then answered, "I don't know for sure. I don't think I so much destroyed him, I think it's more like I dispersed him. I don't even know if he even still in our reality..."

"Well whatever happens we'll be ready."

Dusk smiled and put his hoof on his brother's shoulder, "With me. Count on it."